About Greece
Greece is located in South East Europe and borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece is well known as a holiday destination with more than 227 islands and receives approximately 30 million international visitors each year. A great place to study and at the same time explore Greece’s unique landscape.
In a historic point of view, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, of the Olympic Games, with great Heroes and amazing mythology. Greece is also homeland of famous philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Epicurus, and others.
The official and national language of Greece is Greek. Even if you find and choose to study in English, it is important to learn as much Greek language as you can. This is a skill that will look great on your CV/resume!
Greece is a great study abroad destination combining a multicultural, relaxed, and open society that will make your studies memorable. Moreover, studying in Greece is a quite affordable choice compared to other European study destinations. There are both public and private universities that offer multilingual courses (Bachelor and Master’s degrees) based on a collaboration framework between Greek and international institutions. For example, you can acquire a UK degree while studying in a Greek private university (that has a formal affiliation with the respective UK university).
There are currently 24 public universities and around 140 Master programs that are being taught either in Greek or English. Do note however, that there is a student limit for each academic program and that number is decided by the Ministry of Education. The most popular cities to study is the capital of Athens and the second largest city Thessaloniki. There are also universities that are located to popular island destinations such as Crete.
The Greek higher education system provides Bachelor, Master’s and Doctorate degrees:
- All public universities are accredited by the Greek government.
- All Private universities are not recognized as universities but as college institutions. Colleges are allowed though to cooperate with foreign universities and offer both Bachelor and Master’s programs that are mostly taught in English.
Bachelor’s Studies in Greece
The duration of the majority of Bachelor's degrees is four years (with the exception of medicine, dentistry or engineering that take five or six years to complete).
If you wish to apply for a bachelor’s course in Greece it is critical that you will prove that neither yourself nor your parents have a Greek nationality or citizenship. Then, you may submit the required documentation to the Ministry of Education and complete an application entry form, stating which university programs you wish to attend.
All undergraduate programs are taught in Greek and as a foreign student you must prove your language competency during your application. The best way to acquire such a qualification is by acquiring one either from Greek public university or sit the KPG national language exam.
The Greek education grading system for all degree levels is based on a numerical scale of 1-10:
- A student should achieve a score of at least five and above for passing a module and overall of the course
- Grades between 8,5-10 rank for excellent
- From 6,5-8,49 for very good
- From 5-6,49 for good
- The Greek higher education system is based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), meaning that you also earn credits for each course that you study.
Master's Studies in Greece
Master’s degrees range from one to two years. In the last few years, more and more programs are offered in English as well. A student can have the option of choosing whether to study in English or Greek.
For the public universities the main entry criteria are:
- Above 7 Grade (for the undergraduate)
- Oral exams
- Written exams
- Interviews
- Proof of English language (such as TOEFL)
Doctorate Studies in Greece
Doctorate studies take around five to six years. To apply for a Doctorate degree, you must have a Master’s degree. Every year, each university department publishes its own entry requirements.
Access to higher education in Greece is regulated by the Ministry of Education and it differs by subject and level of education. In order to be accepted in a public university you need to have acquired a general university entrance qualification and your performance level acquired in the general entrance exam (the same applies to foreign degree-seeking students).
Candidates have to fill out a study application form with their preferred institutions. The free and available study places are administered by the Ministry of Education (and depends on the number of applicants and the national score exam results).
As we mentioned previously, Greek language skills are also necessary, and especially at an undergraduate level. Master’s courses can be available in the English language. Competency of the Greek language can be granted after having taken the special language examinations for foreign students by universities in Athens and Thessaloniki (twice a year - in June and September / October).
In order to submit your application please note the following:
- Submit the required documentation in Greek – translated and certified from your original language
- Your application can only be submitted electronically on the website of the Ministry of Education
If you are a citizen of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland then you do not need to apply for a student visa. However, if you plan to stay longer than three months (90 days), you will need a residence permit. Do also make sure that you have a valid passport during your stay in Greece.
If you are non-EU/EEA/EFTA national, then you may be able to apply for a student visa.
The Process of Getting your Student Visa
Having secured a place at a university, you need then to apply for your student visa. Please do this, some months in advance and before your arrival in Greece as it is a process that might require some months to be completed. It would be quite useful (and if possible) to either visit your nearest Greek Embassy and ask for information or have a look at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
The type of visa required for third-country nationals pursuing studies in Greece is the National-D category visa.
One of the top reasons to carry out your undergraduate study in Greece is that tuition fees are quite low and in general students from European countries do not have to pay for tuition fees when studying in the public universities.
However, many Master’s degrees they charge tuition fees and those apply to everyone (whether you are a Greek Citizen, from Europe or from a third-country nationals).
In general terms and in public universities (depending on the university, department, and academic level) for non-European students are expected to pay:
- a tuition fee of around 1500 Euros per year for their undergraduate studies
- a tuition fee of around 1500-2000 Euros per academic year/semester for their postgraduate studies
When it comes to studying in private institutions the tuition fees are much higher and can reach up to 10,000 Euros or more per annum. Make sure you visit the university’s website for the latest and exact tuition fees.
It is imperative to remind you that if you wish to study in Greece you should be able to provide sufficient proof of financial support whilst you are there. There are however, some popular sources of funding.
- International organisations who grant aid to students all over the world. In order to participate, you need to apply while you are at your home country.
- In some countries, banking institutions offer student loans.
- Apply for scholarships in own country or from an international organization.
- If you wish to apply for a scholarship in Greece, IKY, the Greek State Scholarship Foundation, provides multiple opportunities across all levels of study.
The cost of living in Greece, and compared to other European countries, is quite reasonable. When it comes to the student accommodation, please note the following:
- Not every public university offers student accommodation.
- The entry requirements are various in order to secure a place.
- Most of the student housing is in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Larisa or Heraklion Crete.
- Because of the affordable cost of living in Greece, a lot of students tend to find their own accommodation.
In terms of living costs:
- In large cities you will need approximately 250-450 Euros for a one bedroom apartment in the city center (and outside of the city center it costs around 200-350 Euros).
- In smaller cities, the cost of living is even cheaper, including renting a student apartment.
- Utilities can vary between 50-100 Euros per month for water, electricity and heating, while an internet connection for students can cost around 20-30 Euros per month.
- Large cities have good public transportation system (underground, buses) and you can get a monthly card for 30 euros. As a student you are entitled to a discount.
- In terms of your monthly expenses, you will need 600-1000 euros depending on your location and rent.
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